A police investigation is underway after a fire broke out inside the Walmart in Woodstock on New Year’s Eve, causing the store to be closed due to fire and smoke damage.
The Woodstock Fire/Rescue District and Woodstock Police Department responded around 7:22 p.m. Wednesday to the Walmart, 1275 Lake Avenue in Woodstock, for reports of a structure fire.
Woodstock Fire/Rescue District Public Information Officer Alex Vucha said firefighters arrived to find the store being evacuated.
Employees advised fire crews that there had been an active fire inside the building.
Firefighters entered the store to investigate and located the fire near the rear of the store, Vucha said.
The fire had already been extinguished by the building’s automatic sprinkler system.
Fire crews remained on the scene for more than two hours to monitor conditions and assist with smoke removal, Vucha said.
The Wonder Lake Fire Protection District’s airboat was requested to assist with ventilating smoke from the large building.
Walmart was closed for the remainder of the evening due to smoke damage throughout the store. No injuries were reported.
An employee of the store told Lake and McHenry County Scanner that all employees were ordered to evacuate along with customers.
He said water was seen from the sprinklers and white smoke was visible inside the store, which had a distinct smell.
The incident is being investigated by the Woodstock Police Department, which did not immediately respond to a request on the investigation.